Robyn Hadley, dean of students and vice president for student affairs, is leaving the University effective Aug. 1. Hadley started at the University in 2021 and has been in Charlottesville for just two years. Christopher Holstege, current Executive Director of Student Health and Wellness, will step in as VPSA and Cedric Rucker, current senior associate dean in the Office of African-American Affairs, will serve as interim Dean of Students.
The news came in an email sent Friday morning by University President Jim Ryan and Provost Ian Buacom. Leadership praised Hadley for her work after the COVID-19 pandemic and the shooting in November that took the lives of three students. Hadley also progressed on initiatives like Hoos First to serve first-generation and low-income students as well as expanding mental health care resources for students.
Hadley first came to the University to serve as vice president and chief student affairs officer in June of 2021. She replaced Patricia Lampkin, who retired after over 20 years in the role. A year later in 2022, the University announced that Hadley would also assume the role of Dean of Students, replacing interim appointment Julie Caruccio.
Caruccio stepped in after previous Dean of Students Allen Groves left the University in July of 2021 following 14 years of service. Previously, University leadership had indicated that a full search would commence to find his replacement before Hadley stepped in to assume both roles.
Now, just a year after assuming her role as Dean of Students, Hadley will leave the University. The announcement did not indicate what Hadley’s next steps would be.
The University has seen an unusual amount of turnover in senior leadership positions in the years coming out of the pandemic. After Lampkin and Groves left, previous Provost Liz Magill left to serve as the ninth president of the University of Pennsylvania. In February, previous assistant vice president for student affairs Nicole Eramo announced she’d be leaving the University after 25 years.
Holstege is also a professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics within the School of Medicine and formerly served as chair of the Faculty Senate. Rucker began his career at the University, and returned to Charlottesville from University of Mary Washington in 2022.
“Chris and Cedric are experienced and passionate student affairs professionals, and we are confident they will serve our community ably as we begin a search to fill these two important positions permanently,” the announcement read. “Please join us in thanking Robyn for her service to the University and welcoming Chris and Cedric to these new assignments.”
The email did not provide any specific details or information on the next steps for Hadley’s permanent replacement, except that a search will commence.
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